Hydraulic dredge swinger



NQV. 17, 1936. F scH I 2,061,440

HYDRAULI C DREDGE SWINGER Filed June 8, 1932 Patented Nov. 17, 1936 UNITED STATES with A'ET OFFICE 16 Claims.

'I'his'invention relates to an improved hydraulic dredge swinger, and has for one of its principal objects the provision of a hydraulic or suction dredge equipped with means for swinging the same through a considerable arc whereby quite a relatively large area adjacent and immediately in advance of the dredge can be cleared or excavated without the necessity of moving the position of the dredge itself.

One of the important objects of this invention is the provision of an improved means for swinging a suction dredge which means is incorporated into the dredge itself and which will eliminate the necessity of using moorings and mooring lines for moving the dredge through desired arcs for channel clearing or other similar purposes.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of means adapted to be associated with a suction dredge of the inland water type and of a box or pontoon form, which dredges generally lack propelling machinery and which, in the embodiment of this invention, provide a means of propelling the dredge into and through the area to be cleared without the use of auxiliary means such as anchors, dead men, associated mooring lines, and similar appliances.

Another and still further important object of the invention is the provision of means for stepping the dredge ahead, this means being particularly embodied in what is known as spuds and the novel mounting therefor.

Other and further important objects of the invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the accompanying drawing and following specification.

The invention, in a preferred form, is illustrated in the drawing and hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan view somewhat diagrammatic of an improved suction dredge with associated spuds constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention and illustrating in dotted lines the great flexibility of movement thereof.

Figure 2 is a rear view of the dredge showing particularly the spuds and supporting framework therefor.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the rear end of the dredge showing particularly the spud mounting.

Figure l is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

As shown in the drawing;

The reference numeral It! indicates generally the dredge of this invention which is of a box or pontoon form, and is provided with a suction pipe 12 at its forward end, with a spiral dredging head I4 or the like provided at the outer end of the suction pipe for breaking and loosening the material to be dredged.

A pair of spuds l6 and I8 respectively are mounted at the rear end of the dredge, these spuds having been previously employed in this art but heretofore mounted directly on the rear end of the dredge and used only for purposes of stepping the dredge forward with the aid of breast or mooring lines, and also for swinging the dredge about a single pivot point for the purpose of cutting into the under-water deposit.

In the improved embodiment of thisinvention, the spuds l6 and I8 are mounted in a framework 20 which framework is pivotally mounted at the rear end of the dredge and extends for a considerable distance beyond the end thereof, this pivotal mounting embodying generally a series of plates 22 mounted on a common king pin or bolt 24 and having supporting elements 26 whereby the framework for the spuds is firmly retained in desired position with respect to the dredge.

This pivoted construction and associated elements are best illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. Other mountings could be used if desired, as, for example, mountings similar to those employed for a ships rudder or the like.

The spuds i6 and I 8 are sufficiently heavy to positively anchor the dredge Ill in position when both are dropped, and in order to swing the head of the dredge throughout a working are as best shown by the dotted lines 28 in Figure 1, a pair of cables 38 and 32 are provided attached to the sides of the framework 28 and adapted to operate practically directly upon the spuds l6 and I8 respectively. These cables 38 and 32 are connected to power winches or drums 34 and 36 respectively mounted in the barge as best shown in Figure 1, and when the spuds l6 and I8 are dropped, a winding of one of the drums with a corresponding unwinding of the other will produce a swinging of the nose of the dredge through the are 28 and to an extreme limit of movement as best shown by the dotted lines 38 in Figure 1. In this position, the cables will assume the positions shown in the dotted lines in the figure.

It will be evident thatin this manner a considerable range of movement of the operating end of the barge can be accomplished without shifting the position of the barge itself, and when material has been cleared from the area covered by this range of movement, the barge can be stepped forward by simply raising one of the spuds I6 or l8, and then manipulating the cables in such a manner that the raised spud is moved to a forward position, after which it can be dropped and the first spud raised whereupon further manipulation of the cables 30 and 32 will cause the barge to assume a position directly ahead of its original location.

In this manner, a channel of considerable width can be dredged and the barge satisfactorily manipulated through the entire area to be cleared without the use of any mooring lines, anchors or similar appliances.

Cables and 42 are provided for raising and lowering the spuds I6 and I8 respectively, these cables being attached to power winches or drums 44 and 46 respectively mounted on the barge and also act to retain the spuds in desired position.

Sleeves 48 and 50 respectively are provided for the spuds, these sleeves being mounted in the lower end of the framework 20 and are for the purpose of maintaining the spuds rigidly in an upright position and preventing looseness or wobbling, especially when the cables 30 and 32 are in action to move the barge as desired.

In order to prevent any looseness or insecurity of the framework itself, the braces 26 are provided to a turn-table or the like 52 which is rotatably mounted on supporting extensions 54 securely fastened to the rear end of the dredge.

Inasmuch as the location of mooring posts, dead men, or the dropping of anchors or similar appliances involves the expenditure of considerable time and labor, a very great saving will be effected in the use of this invention in conjunction with suction dredges.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction varied throughout a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I, therefore, do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a suction dredge, a framework pivotally mounted on the stern and extending rearwardly thereof, a plurality of spuds positioned therein and serving to advance the dredge by a series of swinging movements, the alignment of said spuds being at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the dredge, and means for swinging the dredge in an arc in front of the framework.

2. In a suction dredge, a framework pivotally mounted on and projecting to the rear of the same, a plurality of spuds positioned transversely of the dredge in said framework, said spuds being adapted to impart forward movement to the dredge by a series of swinging movements, a Winch positioned on each side of the dredge and a cable therefrom to the framework, and means for raising and lowering the spuds, said means comprising a pair of pulley blocks and a cable for each spud.

3. In a suction dredge, a framework pivotally mounted on the same and outside the hull thereof, a plurality of spuds spaced in fixed relation to each other positioned therein, a winch positioned on each side of the dredge and a cable therefrom to the framework, and means for stepping the dredge ahead.

4. In a suction dredge, a rectangular framework pivotally mounted on the same the longitudinal axis of said frame being at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the dredge, a plurality of spuds positioned therein, a winch positioned on each side of the dredge and a cable therefrom to the framework, and means for stepping the dredge ahead, said means comprising cables and winches for raising and lowering the spuds associated with the cables and winches for swinging the dredge.

5. In a suction dredge, a frame pivotally mounted on the stern of the dredge and projecting therebeyond, a plurality of vertically movable interchangeable spuds positioned in the frame transversely to the dredge, said spuds being adapted to step the dredge forward by a series of swinging movements, and means on board the dredge for swinging the same through an arc in front of the framework, said means comprising drums and cables connected to the frame.

6. Self-contained means for advancing and swinging dredges, comprising a framework pivotally mounted on and extending from the dredge, and a pair of laterally opposed spuds mounted for vertical movement in the framework, said spuds being normally in a line transverse to the longitudinal axis of the dredge to step the dredge forward by a series of swinging movements.

'7. Self-contained means for advancing and swinging dredges, comprising a framework pivotally mounted on and extending from the dredge, and a pair of laterally opposed spuds mounted for vertical movement in the framework, and means for selectively raising, lowering, and maintaining the spuds in desired position, said spuds being normally in a line transverse to the longitudinal axis of the dredge to move the dredge along its line of'travel by a series of swinging movements. v

8. Self-contained means for advancing and swinging dredges, comprising a framework pivotally mounted on and extending from the dredge, a pair of laterally opposed spuds mounted for vertical movement in the framework, and means for maintaining the lowered spuds in a vertical position, said spuds being normally in a line transverse to the longitudinal axis of the dredge to move the dredge along its line of travel by a series of swinging movements.

9. In a suction dredge swinger, a framework, a pair of laterally opposed spuds positioned therein, the alignment of said spuds being at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the dredge when in normal position, said spuds being adapted to advance the dredge by a series of swinging movements, the framework being pivotally secured to the stern of a dredge, and means for swinging the dredge about the framework when said framework is secured in position by the lowered spuds.

10. In a suction dredge swinger, a framework, a pair of laterally opposed spuds positioned therein said spuds being secured against horizontal movement in the framework, means for pivotally mounting the framework on the stern of a dredge, and means for swinging the dredge about the framework when said framework is secured in position by the lowered spuds, the pivotal mounting for the framework comprising brackets, and a plurality of juxtaposed plates mounted on the dredge and the framework, and a pivot pin passing through the aligned centers of the juxtaposed plates.

11. In a suction dredge, self-contained means for swinging the nose of the same across an area to be dredged and by a series of progressive swinging steps to move the dredge forward, said means comprising a framework pivotally mounted with respect to the dredge and a pair of laterally opposed spuds in the framework, said spuds being normally in a line transverse to the longitudinal axis of the dredge.

12. In a suction dredge, self-contained means for swinging the nose of the same across an area to be dredged and for also stepping the dredge ahead, said means comprising a framework pivotally mounted with respect to the dredge and projecting therebeyond and a pair of laterally opposed spuds in the framework, said spuds being normally in a line transverse to the longitudinal axis of the dredge to move the dredge in its line of travel by a series of swinging movements.

13. In a suction dredge, self-contained means for swinging the nose of the same across an area to be dredged, said means comprising a framework outside of and pivotally mounted with respect to the dredge and a pair of spuds secured against lateral movement in the framework, winches 0n the dredge, and cables connecting the framework and spuds to the winches, said spuds being adapted to advance the dredge by a series of progressive swinging movements.

14. In a suction dredge, self-contained means for swinging the nose of the same across an area to be dredged, said means including a framework rectangular in cross-section pivotally mounted with respect to the dredge, a plurality of spuds at fixed intervals and in alignment transverse to the longitudinal axis of the dredge, said spuds being vertically movable, and means for selectively raising or lowering said spuds, said spuds being adapted to advance the dredge by a series of progressive swinging movements.

15. In a suction dredge, self-contained means for swinging the nose of the same across an area to be dredged, said means including a framework rectangular in cross-section pivotally mounted with respectto the dredge, a plurality of spuds at fixed intervals and in alignment transverse to the longitudinal axis of the dredge, said spuds being vertically movable, and means for selectively raising or lowering said spuds, said spuds being adapted to advance the dredge along its line of travel by a series of progressive swinging movements.

16. In combination with a dredge having excavating instrumentalities at its forward end and adapted to be swung laterally to swing said instrumentalities in making a cut transversely of a ditch being dredged; of means for advancing said dredge along the center line of said ditch and anchoring the rear end thereof along said line, said means comprising a spud carrier pivotally connected to the rear end of said dredge by a vertical pivot, said carrier being formed with two spaced apart, vertically elongated rigid guide bearings each positioned laterally of and at a distance from the axis of rotation of said carrier, a spud mounted in each bearing for vertical longitudinal movement therein, power means for moving said spuds separately to force the same into the ground at the bottom of the ditch and'raise the same therefrom, and means for rotating said carrier independently of the swinging movement of the dredge to rotate said carrier about one of said spuds as a center when said sp-ud is lowered and the other raised, to ad- Vance said dredge and to advance the raised spud relative to the lowered spud, said rotating means for said carrier including power means on said dredge operatively connected to said carrier.

FRED SCI-IAEFER. 

